Definition: And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.
Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this passage from Genesis 22:3. It's a really important story in the Bible about God’s plan for Abraham! Here’s what it means, explained simply: Basically, God is setting up a sacrifice to show his love and commitment to humanity. Let’s unpack it word by word: “And Abraham rose up early in the morning…” – This tells us that it was a very important time. Abraham was getting ready to leave home. “…and saddled his ass…” - He was preparing a saddle for a ride. “…and took two of his young men with him…” – This is the core of the story. Abraham chose two of his sons, Isaac and Jacob (later renamed Israel), to go with him. “Isaac his son…” - This is important because it’s his son! It shows that God is prioritizing his family. “…and clave the wood for the burnt offering…” – "Clave" means to shape or carve something. Abraham was shaping a wooden rack, which would be used to hold the burning sacrifice. He was making sure it was perfectly shaped and ready for the fire. “And rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.” – This is where it gets really significant. God told Abraham where to go: a specific spot in the wilderness. He gave him directions. So, Abraham left home and headed towards that location. So, what’s happening? God wanted to show his love and plan for humanity through a sacrifice. He chose two of his sons as helpers, set up a place to make the offering, and then left to go there. It's essentially a sign that God is working with Abraham in a big way. Why is this story important? This passage is often seen as the beginning of the story of Genesis (the first part of the Bible). It’s a foundational event that shows how God starts to build relationships and establish a covenant (a promise) with humanity. --- Do you want me to: Explain any specific part in more detail? Talk about what this story means on a deeper level (like the themes of obedience, faith, or divine purpose)?